Lubricating means



y 1950 M. SHAPIRO 2,514,903

LUBRICATING MEANS Filed March 5, 1948 INVEN TOR.

' MoRnEcm sywpmo I @hmwdm ATTORNEYS Patented July 11, 1950 a P TENT" or F v 2,514,903

LUBRICATINGLMEANS.

Mordecai Shapiro, Merrick, N. Y.. Application Marchl5, 1943 Serial no. 13,235; 1

castlintegrally. by a diei-castingiprocess withathe 1 housing in vwhich said bearings are located, thus. l, greatly decreasing the cost ofsmanu-facture, and assembly l Other objects andadvantagesnandfeatures..of 10 my: invention are stated in the" annexed description and; drawings, which 1 illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof. .0

Fig-, 1 is; a vertical; section, partially, in eleva-M tion, of the! improved sdevicech Figmz ista:transversepsectionionv the .line 2 -2 a of Figgln-l l Fig.3 isra detail-section, partially} in elevation, ontheline 3+3'ofFigg2n Fig issa ftransversei section nothe 1ine: 4-4 120 ofFig'LLiv The bearings 4 and 4a are cast integrally. with the-housing d. said-housing l hasa conventional recess 3 2 at .-its ,topv io'n receiving,a cover which, n is notshownw I a r 5 The innemcylindrical. faces ofhthe bearings 4 andn4alhave acommonilongitudinalnaxis, :which is coincidentwiththedongitudinalLaxisof, the, rotatable. shafti. ..,For convenience, h it zis, assumed. that-this-longitudinahaxisis,horizontal...,Thedes vice-tishpreferably ,usedewhile t such longitudinal axis-is-horizontal... v

The bearings 4 and 4d have proximatelvertical,1, planar transverse .facesnlf, which are longitudi nally separated 1 Said .bearings- 4 and AaLalso. have .35 remote transverse faces w which are also verti-m cal and planar. These transversevfacesfifj and 14g are perpendicular. to the longitudinal axis of L shaft These bearings 4 and 4a are identical.

Atmtheir proximate transverse faces 4f;,'each saidbearing A and 4011' has two top oil-grooves 6 and] which are circumferentially spacedfrom each other. l'I'hese oil-grooves 6. and! are at opposit'e' sides of'a verticalplanein'whichthe axis'45 of shaft l is located." Each" oil groove 6 and 1 extendspthroughthe. top fa ce ofthe respective bearing Ajor 4a.and also through" its inner. cylin-" drical baring-ufefcej so' that ifilubricating oil is forced into the open'topof an :oil-groove 6 or l,

suchoil will flow through its open .bottom, .to con tact with the shaft'f32. a I

Each f'said bearing'j l 'andi4ii, thiis has' a'i'iortivo'n v whichlhas a IOngitudinaLcylihdrical outer face, whichis located betweendepending vertical and155 transverse. .walls which "are spaced longitudinally from each other; These depending walls are cast integralfwith the bottom wall of housing! and theyjorm integralparts" ofthe bearings: At the proximate"transverse' races ofsaid"bearings-'" 14' Claims. (Cl. 30851 28) 4 and 4a, said-depending :walls-rareintegraliwith a web W which is integral with the bottomzwall of the housing 1.

Said depending walls have longitudinal faces which are vertical andaplanarjand mWhiCh are spaced transversely. inwardly from the longitudinalxwalls, of housing Theseilongitudinal facesof said depending walls ,-are-paralleltozthe axis-J of shaft 3. r r

If oil is poured into the housing! to provide an annular oil-pool 5, said. oil-po01. 5rsurrounds saiddepending wallsz4g rand-a a part, of said oilpoo15 is. located-in the spacesbetweenrsaid ole- 1 pending walls" at the proximate facesulf of "saidz"; bearings, so that said": space "is always supplied with oil for theoil-orings R=- Attheir remoteends, the two oil-groovesfi come municate with two res-pective. longitudinal oilchannels 6a, and the two oil-grooves, l communi+= cats with a two -respective.longitudinal oi-l-chane nels "'Ia. Each-said nil-channel.- fia la is closed at" its topw Each; saidtoil ichannel, 6a, anda'lareisw open at its;bottom,-,where1 -it;=extendsathrough the respective" inneri cylindrical: bearing face;

Each 3 said soil channelt 6a and-Jwis .openat' both ends thereof, so -that eachroi-l-nchannel= has a port. in: a respectiveedge-face oftthenrespective bear 1ng.-. v p The respective .oil-groovescfi and their respect-g tiveo-oil channels 1611:,0fr1'1h6 bea1=ings 4 andv 4a are r longitudinally alined; so that, if ::oil is; forced 1 into 2;; the, two respective oilegrooveswfima said v oil) Win51: flow 1ongitudinally in respective opposed longi tudina'l, directions-l through e and longitudinally out of the-respective oilg-channelsgfia. -v

The respectiveoil-grooves I andtheiroil-chan-l nels 1a are similarly. longitudinallyalined.as shown in Fig. 3. The oil. =wl-1ich:is located iinthens oil-grooves .6 :and @the-voihchannels: Gag-also confacts with shaft 3, s0.-that: the rotating shaft :3.--

picks up the :oil along the.ientir,e length a of each-1 bearing 4 andv 4a;whereby amontinuousa film or bath of oil is provided-tbetween the.entiresinner? cylindricalifaces of the hearingsA- and ddandjthe respective partstoftthe :rotating shafts: 3

I provide two oil-rings Ronithe shaft 3,=-in space between the proximateafaces; ofithewloear ings 4- and-74am. While I :canuse lone. .oil-ring I greatly prefer. to-use-two zoiler-ingsn; Eachs-oil-ring- R has concentric inner: and-outer. circulan faces and planar: transversehfacesw Each: cit-ring- 21st, of thetsameawidth; asxmeasu-redialong the axis of shaft 3. These oil-mings-Ruarelongitudinally .slidable onshaft 3 in the spacezbetweentheproxi 1 mate faces of. bearings r4 -anda4 w -and shaft 3 can {5,

rotate relative :to Oi-11 ingS R'.m

These oil-ringsflR. dip into the respective part: i of the oilrpool 5.. When the .shaft-B isrotatedq in either, direction, ,as. atl D revolutions per *minute, the oil-rings Rfare rotated by said shaft 4 3 in the usual manner in the same direction as shaft 3, thus raising oil from the pool and sending the oil into either the oil-slots 6 to flow longitudinally out of the oil-channels 6a, or into the oil-slots I to flow longitudinally out of the oil-channels 111..

If the shaft 3 is turned clockwise, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, the oil which is picked up by the rotating oil-rings R will fill the oil-slots 1 and flow longitudinally out of oil-channels la, and little or no oil will be sent into the oil-slots 6.

If the shaft 3 is turned counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 4, the picked-up oil will fill the slots 6 and flow longitudinally out of oil-channels 6a and little or no oil will enter the oil-slots 1. The picked-up oil fills the oil-channels Ba. or 1a, thus lubricating the respective parts of the shaft 3.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the oil-channels 6a and 1a, which are identical, have planar longitudinal walls which are inclined 45 to the vertical plane. The planar longitudinal walls of oilohannels la and the planar longitudinal walls of oil-channels 6a are inclined away from the median vertical plane of shaft 3, in which its longitudinal axis is located.

I have found by experience that two oil-rings R are much superior to a single oil-ring, although my invention includes the use of a single oil-ring R in the samelocation as the two oil-rings R.

If I use a single oil-ring R, this single oil-ring tends to move longitudinally towards the respective proximate face'ofbearing 4 or 4a, even if the shaft 3 is truly horizontal. The shaft 3 is often nottruly horizontal. In such case, a single oil-ring R moves towards its lower bearing. I prefer to use a heavy lubricating oil, such as No. '70 according to the standards of the Society of Automotive Engineers. I prefer that the tops of the oil-rings R shouldextend substantially to the tops of the bearings 4 and 4a. Under such conditions, the film of oil at the top of shaft 3 which is located between the proximate faces of bearings 4 and 4a, keeps said oil-rings R longitudinally separated, sothat each oil-ring R remains close to theproximate end of the respective bearing, thus keeping the oil-grooves 6 or 1 filled with oil, depending upon the direction of rotation of shaft 3.

I prefer'tdclos'the-oil channels 6a and 1a, save at their longitudinally alined ends and at the cylindrical bearing faces of the bearings in order to provide a reliable longitudinal flow of oil through said oil-channels.

With respect to the median vertical plane, the

longitudinal walls of the oil-channels are inclinedloppositely to the respective direction of movement of the cylindrical surface of shaft 3. This angle is not limited to 45.

In some installations, the shaft 3 is turned in only one direction; as the clockwise direction indicated in Fig. 4."-In such case, I can omit the oil-grooves 6 andtheir oil-channels 600.

As one practical example, to which the invention is not limited, the following is disclosed:

The diameter of shaft 3 is 0.875 inch and it is rotated at 1200 revolutions per minute. length of the cylindrical bearing face of each bearing, as measured along the axis of shaft 3, is 1.375 inches. The length of the space between the proximate faces of said bearings is 0.31 inch. The weight of each oil-ring R is 0.5 ounce. Its external diameter is 1.875 inches and its internal diameter is 1.375'inches. The width of each oilslot 6 and], measured transversely to the axis The 4 of shaft 3, is 0.18 inch and its length is 0.69 inch. The width of each oil-channel 6a. and 1a is 0.18 inch and its depth is 0.06 inch. The clearance between shaft 3 and the cylindrical bearing faces is 0.06 inch.

The shaft 3 extends through openings in the end-walls of housing I. Said openings are optionally closed in any suitable manner, while permitting the free rotation of shaft 3. Such means are conventional and are not shown. One of said side-wall openings is designated by the reference numeral 9. After the casting has been made, the wall of said opening can be provided with a thread, in order to receive a threaded closure p ug.

I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, but numerous changes, omissions and additions can be made without departing from its scope, and the scope of the invention also includes sub-combinations of the complete combination --disclosed herein. For convenience, the claims refer to the horizontal position of shaft 3. I can provide more than two bearings for shaft 3, and using only a single bearing.

For convenience, some of the terms used in the claims are defined as follows:

Each oil-groove 6 or 1 and its associated oilchannel 6a or M is an oil-passage. In the specific embodiment disclosed herein, the oil-grooves 6 and I are the proximate portions of said oil-passages and the oil-channels 6a and la are the remote portions of said oil-passages. Each proximate portion 6 and 1 is transversely open at the outer face of the respective bearing. Each remote portion Ba. and 1a. is transversely closed at a longitudinal end-wall which is spaced transversely inwardly from the outer face of the respective bearing. 7 v

The longitudinal side-walls of the oil-channels or remote portions'fia and la are inclined to the longitudinal side-walls of the oil-grooves or proximate portions 6 and 1. As shown in Fig. 2, each side-wall of each oil-groove 6a. or la makes an angle of less than with the respective oilgroove, as referred to the vertical median plane. Each longitudinal side-wall of 'each oil-channel 6a or la has a greater inclination to said vertical median plane than the longitudinal side-walls of the oil-grooves 6 and 1.

Each oil-groove 6 and I has planar and parallel longitudinal side-walls which are parallel to the longitudinal axis of shaft 3, and each oil-channel 6a and la has planar and parallel longitudinal side walls which are parallel to said longitudinal axis.

I claim:

1. A lubricating housing which has a bottom wall, longitudinal walls and end-walls,.said bottom wall being integral with bearings which are located above said bottom wall, said bearings having internal cylindrical bearing faces which have a common horizontal and longitudinal axis, said bearings having proximate. end-faces which are longitudinally separated, said bearings also having remote end-faces which are longitudinally opposedtosaid proximate end-faces, a rotatable shaft extending through. said internal bearing faces, said shaft having an exposed portion between said proximate end-faces, oil-ring means supported at the top of said exposed portion, each said bearing having two circumferentially spaced and substantially longitudinal oilpassages which open into said proximate endfaces and into said remote end-faces, said passage of each bearing being located transversely at opposite sides of a vertical plane in which said axis is located, said oil-passages also opening into said internal bearing faces.

2. A lubricating housing according to claim 1, in which each said oil-passage has a proximate portion at a respective proximate end-face and a remote portion at a respective remote end-face, each said proximate portion being also transversely open at the respectiveouter face of the respective bearing, each said remote portion having a longitudinal end-wall which is spaced transversely inwardly from the respective portion of the outer face of the respective bearing.

3. A lubricating housing according to claim 1, in which each said oil-passage has a proximate portion at a respective proximate end-face and a remote portion at a respective remote end-face, each said proximate portion being also transversely-open at the respective outer face of the respective bearing, each said remote portion having a longitudinal end-wall which is spaced transversely inwardly fromthe respective portion of the outer face of the respective bearing, each said proximate portion and each said remote portion having longitudinal side-walls, the longitudinal side-walls of said remote portions being inclined to said vertical plane and having a greater inclination to said vertical plane than said ide-walls of said proximate portions, the angle between said longitudinal side-walls of each said proximate portion and the respective remote portion being less than 180 with respect to said vertical plane.

4. A bearing which has an internal cylindrical bearing face and end-faces, said bearing face having a longitudinal axis,said bearing having a longitudinal oil-passage which extends through said end-faces and which communicates with said internal cylindrical bearing face, said oil-passage having a transversely open part which extends into the outer face of said bearing at one said end-face, said oil-passage having a transversely closed part which has a longitudinal endwall at said other end-face which is spaced transversely inwardly from the respective part of the outer face of said bearing.

5. A bearing according to claim 4, in which said oil-passage is spaced transversely from a plane in which said longitudinal axis is located, said plane being vertical when said longitudinal axis is horizontal.

6.. A bearing according to claim 4, in which said oil-passage is spaced transversely from a plane in which said longitudinal axis is located, said plane being vertical when said longitudinal axis is horizontal, said oil-passage having longitudinal side-walls, said longitudinal side-walls of said transversely closed part being inclined to the longitudinal side-walls of said transversely open part at an angle of less than 180, said side-walls of said transversely closed part having a greater inclination to said plane than said side walls of said transversely open part. i v

7. A lubricating housing according to claim 1, in which said oil-ring means comprises two separate oil rings which are slidable on said exposed portion.

8. A lubricating housing which has a bottom wall and two upstanding bearings which are integral with said bottom wall, said bearings having a common horizontal longitudinal axis, each said bearing having a proximate upstanding wall and a, remote upstanding wall which are integral with said bottom wall, said proximate walls being longitudinally spaced from each other, said housing being shaped to provide an oil space between said proximate walls, below the internal faces of said bearings, each said bearing having two oilgrooves at its respective proximate face, said oilgrooves being open at their tops and bottoms, said oil-grooves being located substantially at the top of the respective bearing and at opposite sides of a vertical plane in which said axis is located, each oil-groove having an oil-channel extension which has a port in the respective remote wall, each said oil-channel extension being closed at its top and open at its bottom, and receiving means for receiving lubricant which emerges from said ports and returning said lubricant to said oil space.

9. A lubricating housing according to claim 8,

V in which said housing also has outer end-walls between which said bearings are located, and said receiving means are spaced between said respective outer end-walls and said respective remote walls.

10. A lubricating housing according to claim 8, in which said oil-grooves and said oil-channel extensions are substantially longitudinal.

11. A lubricating housing according to claim 8, in which said oil-grooves and said oil-channel extensions are substantially longitudinal, said oilgrooves having substantially vertical longitudinal walls, said oil-channel extensions having longitudinal walls which are inclined substantially 45 to the said vertical plane.

12. A lubricating housing which has a bearing which has a longitudinal and substantially horizontal axis, said bearing having a longitudinal wall which has respective edge-faces, said longitudinal wall having an oil-groove at one of said edge faces, said oil groove being located substantially at the top of said longitudinal wall and being circumferentially oifset from a vertical plane in which said axis is located, said oil-groove being open at its top to receive lubricant and being open at its bottom to communicate with the interior of said bearing, said oil-groove having an oil-channel extension which extends towards the other edge-face and which has an outlet port in said other edge-face, said oil-channel extension being closed at its top and being open at its bottom to communicate with the interior of said bearing.

13. A lubricating housing according to claim 12, in which said oil-groove and said oil-channel extensions are substantially longitudinally disposed.

14. A lubricating housing according to claim 12 in which said oil-groove and said oil-channel extensions are substantially longitudinally disposed, the walls of said oil-groove being substantially vertical, the walls of said oil-channel extension being inclined substantially 45 to said vertical plane.

MORDECAI SHAPIRO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 626,715 Norton June 13, 1899 1,368,998 Barr Feb. 22, 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 86,898 France Sept. 24, 1919 

